Pin sorting device



y 8, 1968 c. M. GRIMALDI ETAL 3,385,433

PIN SORTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 31 1966 mvmroxs 611V M-GR/MHLD/ BY Cnkzrolv & JEN/(ms MZM ATTORNEY y 1968 e. M. GRIMALDI ETAL3,385,433

PIN SORTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 31, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 T 25 BY Cam TONJENKINS ATTORNEY y 1968 e. M. GRIMALDI ETAL 3,385,433

PIN SORT ING DEVICE 4 Sheets-She et 5 Filed Oct. 31, 1966 INVENTORS GUYM G'R/MHLD/ CARL ra/v Ci JEN/0N5 ZM M DEE

um F. EMS; mm 1 n A TTOEN E Y United States Patent 3,385,433 PIN SORTINGDEVHCE Guy M. Grimaldi, North Warren, and Carlton G. Jenkins, Clarendon,la., assignors t0 Sylvania Electric Products Inc., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Oct. 31, 1966, Ser. No. 590,998 10 Claims. (Cl. 209-73)This invention relates to means for gauging and segregating items thatdiifer in a slight manner for numerous related items and moreparticularly to a machine for sorting from a group of pins those pinswhich have been bent longitudinally of their lengths.

In general, the machine comprises a means for feeding pins along -atrack of a gauging device which gauges the bent characteristics of thelength of a pin as it is transported along the track and rejects thosepins which are bent beyond a predetermined tolerance and cannot passthrough the gauging device.

'It is an object of this invention to provide a machine for quickly andaccurately gauging pins for their degree of being out of straightnessand to reject those pins which do not have the tolerance prescribed.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with otherand further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof, reference ismade to the following specification and appended claims in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the pin sorting device of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevavtional view of the apparatus of BIG.1 as viewed from the right hand thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View taken on theline 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken on the line 5--*5 ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal plan view of the pin ejecting stationtaken on the line 66 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 7-7 ofFIG. 6. 7

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section view taken on the line 8- 8 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an alternate methodof securing an ejector rod wire within an ejecting tube; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side elevation of a bent pin which is gauged andejected from the apparatus, the pins ejected from the machine normallyhaving an out of straightness very much less than that shown herein.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, at 10 is a base on which ismounted a square plate 12 supporting a Syntron 14. A Syntron is thetrade name of an inverted hollow cone device having a spiral track onthe inside of the cone wall on which articles will travel upward, one byone, upon proper vibratory movements being imparted to the cone, theindividual articles being then fed, along the track to whatever is toreceive the articles. This device is manufactured by Syntron Company,Homer City, Pa. Into the Syntron are fed the pins to be sorted. Thesepins, for example, may be of gold plated steel each .290 inch long and.020 inch in diameter, and to the tolerance of bend or camber for theentire length of pin may be in the order of .005 inch. The pins are fedfrom the Syntron, see FIGS. 1 and 6, to a track 15 in a block 17. Thetrack has an open top and the length of the track is preferably muchgreater than the length of the pins being gauged and of a width at leastgreater than the diameter of the pins plus the tolerance permitted inoverall lateral bend of the pin. Thus a pin 18 (FIG. 10) bowed upheads.

Beyond the track in the direction of movement of the pins and carriedthereby, see FIG. 3, is a venturi arrangement for advancing such pins asare satisfactory and can continue to pass along the track but blockingthe entrance of pins which are excessively bent, i.e., bent to a greaterdegree than the tolerance permitted. The venturi arrangement comprises agauging channel section 20 and, spaced therefrom, as indicated by thespace at 241, a second larger channel section 22, as well as a pin andair exit mount section 24 whose channel is also larger than the channelin section 20. The section 22 has a nose extended into the mouth sectionand is spaced therefrom so that when air fed by a pipe 26 is blown intothe space between the sections 22 and 24, it will flow out of the mouthsection creating a venturi effect. The suction created in the channel ofsection 212 will draw the pins toward and beyond the mouth of theventuri and also will be transmitted to the space 21 creating a suctioneffect therein; also, under normal conditions, with unbent pins in thetrack section I16, adjacent section 20, some air will be sucked viachannel 20 into the space 21. However, an excessively bent pin,hereafter for the sake of brevity termed a bent pin, will block thechannel in section 20 and lower the pressure in the space 21. When sucha condition occurs, the pressure in a pipe 28 communicating with thespace is decreased. When the pressure is lowered, see 'FIG. 2, apressure responsive switch 30 is closed, which closes the circuit to anelectromagnetically opera-ted '4-way valve 3-2 supported on a standard33, this valve having air inlet port 34 (FIG. 4), connected to a pipe 36to an air line, an exhaust port 38, open to the atmosphere, and a port40 connected by a pipe 42 to one end of a pneumatic motor cylinder 44whose piston, as will be described, is connected to means to drive abent pin back onto track section 16 to be blown away. The valve 6 2 alsohas a port 46 connected to the opposite end of the cylinder by a secondpipe 50. The left hand end of the cylinder is supported by a back plate5 1, see FIG. 8, fastened to an L-shaped support block -52, keyed, as at53, for vertical adjustment of the block 52 and held in adjustedposition with reference to the support 83 by suitable bolts '57 ridingin vertical slots in the support 33.

The piston rod 54 of the cylinder is connected at the left hand end,FIG. 1 (at the right in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5) by a vertical connector arm55 to a slide shaft 56 guided for longitudinal movement in the supportblock 52, see FIG. 8, and to a link 60 pivotally connected to the arm55, by the use of a pivot cap 61, see FIG. 4, the link being connectedto a pit-man 62 riding in a groove 64 in an L-shaped carrier 65 movablycarried in a space between a cover plate 66 and the top of support block52. A spacer 67 provides for the support of cover plate 66, the coverplate and spacer being bolted to the block 52. The groove 64 is arcuatein cross section and the pitman has a contour to correspondingly fit inthe arcuate portion. However, the pitman has a flat face 68substantially coplanar with the front face of the carrier, and a strap69 bridges the groove and slidingly confines the pitman in the groovebut prevents its rotation. Adjustably positioned on a portion of theslide shaft 56 adjacent the right hand end thereof, see FIG. 1, is astop collar 70 engaging a fixed part carried by support 33 to limit thedisplacement of the piston in the cylinder toward the left hand, bentpin, ejecting position of the mechanism, the right hand movement of thepiston being limited by abutment of a collar 71 on pitman 62 with an endface of the L-shaped carrier 65, the

collar moving the carrier to its limit of motion, as will be described.

The pitman has fastened to the fiat face thereof, close to its righthand end, FIG. 1, an angle support 72 carrying the bent pin ejector rod74. This ejector rod, see FIG. 9, is comprised of a stiff piece of pianowire 76 of a size to fit within the gauging channel and reinforced by atube 73 of metal closely fitting about the wire, with the ends of thewire extending a sufficient distance beyond both ends of the tube tointerchangeably be used for entering the channel a sufiicient distanceto ensure displacement of a bent pin to clear the gauging channelportion 2% The two parts of the ejector rod are held together by thescrew 80 threaded through a collar 81 surrounding the tube 78, the screwslightly deforming or mashing the tube against the piano wire to securethe parts together. If desired, a screw 82 (FIG. 1) which clamps theejector rod to the angle support 72 may be relied upon to mash andthereby secure the tube onto the piano wire and hold all three parts 72,76 and 78, immovable with respect to each other.

The carrier is mounted for parallel link motion on a pair of links 83(FIG. 1) pivoted for motion within the space between cover plate 66 andblock 52. A spring 86 stretched between a pin 88 mounted on the plate 66and a pin 90 on right hand link 83 tends to maintain the carrier in pinejecting position when the collar 71 on the pitman is moved to the left,FIG. 1, away from the carrier.

The slide shaft 56 also carried at the left hand end, FiG. 1, a switchoperating arm 92 having an adjustable screw 94 adapted to control theoperation of a normally closed switch 96, and at its right hand end asecond switch operating arm 98 having an adjustable screw 160 adapted tooperate a normally open switch 102.

Switch 96, when opened, braeks the current flow to the Syntron and stopsits operation. When in normal pin accepting position of parts, screw 94engages the switch 96, thereby closing the same and activating operationof the Syntron. An upright extension 164 on the arm 92, FIG. 4, has anadjustable screw 106 at its upper end adapted to engage the stem of athree-way valve 108, said valve (with the slide shaft 56 positioned atthe right hand end of its throw, FIG. 1, and the pins being transportedthru the venturi) allowing compressed air to be fed to the venturi andshutting oif ejection air from a to-be-described bent pin ejection port.When the slide shaft 56 is moving to the right in FIG. 4, theseconditions are reversed.

Normally open switch 162 when closed by movement of shaft 56 to theleft, FIG. 1, transmits current to a re lay with a box, not shown, whichcloses a circuit to elccu expelled from the mouth of the venturi, theslide shaft 56 is at the extreme right hand position, FIG. 1, withswitch 102 open and switch closed by reason of abutment of screw 94against the pushbutton 111 of the switch. The collar 71 on pitman 62 isagainst the carrier 65 and has thrust it, aided by the parallel links83, to a position to the right and rearward, against the action spring86 with the left hand link 83 stopped by engagement with an inclinedsurface 87 on spacer 67 and so that the ejector rod 74 is out of thepath of the acceptable pins being ejected from the venturi mouth. Alsoat this time a horizontal arm 112 of an L-shaped pipe 114, adapted toreceive the accepted pins, is held against the carrier 65 so as to be inalinement with the venturi, the vertical leg 116 of this pipe having acollar 118, see FIGS. 1 and 2, fastened thereto resting on the upperface of a journal bearing 129 fixed to the bottom plate of the machine,the vertical leg of the pipe rotating in the bearing. A spring 122 isstressed between a projection 123 on the collar and a pin 12% extendingup from the base 16. The spring serves to yicldingly hold the pipeagainst the carrier 65 and is turned to the position where it isopposite the venturi so that acceptable pins can be delivered via a pipeto a suitable receiver below the vertical leg of the pipe. A stop armextension 125 on pipe 114 engages the venturi nozzle when the carrier 65is retracted and nested in the space between the plate 166 and block 52.When the carrier 65 is permitted to move by action of spring 86 to theposition where the ejector rod is opposite the venturi, its engagementwith the horizontal leg of the pipe causes the pipe to be rotated awayfrom and out of alinement with the venturi.

At the time that the abutment screw 106 contacts the three way valve108, air is admitted to the venturi via pipe 26 (FIGURE 3) and the bentpin blow-off air from a port 126 via a pipe 127 is shut off.

Above the port 126 is a blown out pin receiving chute 128, the chuteallowing pins to be delivered to a U-shaped tube 130 leading to a bentpin receiving receptacle 132 (FIG. 1). Intermediate the Syntron 14 andthe gauging section 20 of the venturi and a little above the level ofthe track 16 is a port 130 (FIGS. 6 and 7) through which air is blownwhen the Syntron is in operation to blow off any pin that may besuperimposed on another pin in the channel. Air to this port is fed by apipe 136.

The parts shown in E16. 1 are depicted just after a bent pin has beendetected, the pressure responsive switch 311 at the bottom of suctiontube 28 has been closed, and the relay in the box operated to reversethe 4-way valve 32 and, as a consequence, the slide bar 56 has beenmoved partially to the left. The Syntron controlling switch 96 is open.The collar 71 on the pitman 62 had been receding aliowing the spring 86to swing the carrier 65 in a manner to bring the rod 74 opposite themouth of the venturi. To assist in centering the rod with respect to thechannels in the venturi, the forward end of the venturi has a conicalnose and a conical recess 132 is provided in the left hand face of thecarrier to pilot the carrier into position. Continued movement of slidebar 56 to the left moves collar 71 away from carrier 55 but the pitman62 continues to shift the angle 72 to the left to push the piano wireinto the venturi channels, the parts being so adjusted that the bent pinis thrust out of channel parts 25), 22 and 24 and back to the track 16into the path of the blow out port 124. Air which is now blowing out ofport 124 will blow the pin up through the chute 128 into the U-shapedpipe 130.

When the left hand stroke of the slide bar 56 has been completed, switch102 is operated to again, via the relay in the box and the 4-way valve,reverse the movement of the slide bar, this causing collar 71 to comeinto engagement with and swing carrier 65 out of the way to therebypermit spring 122 to place the entrance to pipe 114 opposite the venturimouth. As the slide bar reaches its ultimate right hand position, FIG.1, the switch 96 is closed to start the Syntron into operation and thecontact screw 106 operates the valve 168 to cut off the bent pin blowoti fluid through port 126, and to turn on the fluid to furnish air tothe venturi.

Thus, there is provided an improved pin sorting device for rapidly andaccurately gauging pins relative to degree of camber and segregating orrejecting those pins which do not meet the prescribed tolerances. Themechanical and fluid linkages within the device provide high speediroduction operation while still maintaining gauging accuracy andrejection efiiciency.

While there has been shown and described what is at present consideredthe preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined bythe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pin sorting machine comprising a member providing a channel, fluidpressure means for transporting pins to be sorted along said channel,means sensitive to a variation of pressure of the fluid in said channelcaused by a bent pin therein for ejecting said bent pin from saidchannel. I

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said means sensitive to thevariation in pressure includes a switch and fluid operated motor withpiston and valve mechanism responsive to the operation of said switchfor causing a complete cycle of reciprocation of said piston.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said piston is connected with aslide shaft, said slide shaft having means to displace a parallel linksupported carrier in which a pin ejector rod is slidable, saiddisplacement being from in front of said channel, additional means toposition the pin ejector rod in alinement with said channel and meansconnecting the slide shaft with the ejector rod to reciprocate the same.4 k

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the connecting means includes a linkand pitman connected to each other, the link being pivotally connectedto a part movable with the slide shaft and the pitman to the carrier.

5. A pin sorting machine comprising:

a channel along which pins may be fed,

means for passing a fluid current thru said channel and creating a fluidpressure differential between the fluid entering the channel and thatleaving the channel, a fluid pressure sensitive switch in communicationwith the air flowing thru the channel, the pressure of said flowing airbeing insufiicient to operate the switch with acceptable pins passingthru the channel but suflicient to operate the switch when a bent pin isimpeding the flow fluid thru said channel, and means responsive tooperation of said switch to remove the bent pin from the channel and outof blocking position with respect to other oncoming pins to be sorted.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein the channel is part of a venturiwith the pressure sensed being that of the suction fluid flowing thruthe channel.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein the means to remove the bent pinsincludes an ejector rod movable from a position out of alinement withthe channel to a position in alinement therewith and including means tocause the rod to enter the channel and thrust the bent pin backwardlyalong the channel for removal thereof.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein further means are provided to blowthe thrust back pin out of the path of movement of other oncoming pinsto be sorted.

9. The structure of claim 7 wherein a pipe is provided for conductingpins issuing from the mouth of the venturi to a collecting receptacleand wherein said pipe is movable concomitantly with the ejector rod foralternative positioning at the mouth of the venturi.

18. A structure as set forth in claim 7 wherein the ejector rod isoperated by movement of a reciprocable carrier.

References t'jited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,031,883 5/1962 Pocock et al.7337.6 3,060,352 10/ 1962 Wiseman. 3,258,118 6/1966 Gesell 209-82 X3,276,578 10/1966 Harris et al. 20 980 X 3,317,039 5/1967 Wadey 7337.73,351,197 11/1967 Smith 20'980 X ALLEN N. KNOWLES, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,385,433 May 28 1968 Guy M. Grimaldi et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as 'shown below:

Column 1 line 15 "of" should read to line 31 "elevavtional" should readelevational Column 3 line 35 "braeks" should read breaks Column 4 line 6"166" should read 66 line 21 "130" should read H 134 Signed and sealedthis 14th day of October 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer

1. A PIN SORTING MACHINE COMPRISING A MEMBER PROVIDING A CHANNEL, FLUIDPRESSURE MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING PINS TO BE SORTED ALONG SAID CHANNEL,MEANS SENSITIVE TO A VARIATION OF PRESSURE OF THE FLUID IN SAID CHANNELCAUSED